GLOBAL WARMING – WHAT INDIA SHOULD DO? The Sizzling summer has been a harsh reminder that there is urgent need to cool things down. Leaders of the developed nations of the G-8 did just that on June 8 in Germany. But having invited the emerging economies of the G-5 (Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa) to join them in con­sultation, the Big Eight showed their contempt for the proc­ess by unilaterally putting out a press release on June 8 of what purported to be an agreement. It was to be reached at the G8-G5 meet the following day! The G-8 meet called for a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 but also heard a homily from Bush to the effect that “nothing is going to happen in terms of substantial reductions unless China and India participate in reducing greenhouse gases”. This is from the leader of a nation responsible for emitting 24 per cent of annual global warming gases. The G-5 was not amused and Brazil has called for sepa­rate annual summits of these nations to concert action on matters of concern to them. It is their argument that while they are as anxious as the rest to arrest global warming, this cannot be... read more